2017European Scientific Journal ESJOpen access

Gravitational Time Dilation Derived from Special Relativity and Newtonian Gravitational Potential

Rickey Austin

Open full text 5 citations

Abstract

Einstein was known for often presenting "gedanken" or thought experiments (Miller, 1999). This paper is such an exercise. Time dilation in Special Relativity is based on the derived value of γ (a scalar value) (Einstein, 1905). γ will be calculated as a function of relativistic kinetic energy, allowing time dilation to become a function of relativistic kinetic energy. With the new methodology constructed, a "gedanken” experiment is considered. Can a time dilation function be derived, using Newtonian gravitational potential energy in the same manor kinetic energy was used in Special Relativity? This paper carries out the derivation and compares the results with General Relativity's Schwarzschild solution. The what if thought experiment provides a first order accuracy to GR's Schwarzschild solution.

Open-access reader

About this research paper

What this paper is about

Einstein was known for often presenting "gedanken" or thought experiments (Miller, 1999). This paper is such an exercise. Time dilation in Special Relativity is based on the derived value of γ (a scalar value) (Einstein, 1905). γ will be calculated as a function of relativistic kinetic energy, allowing time dilation to become a function of relativistic kinetic energy. With the new methodology constructed, a "gedanken” experiment is considered. Can a time dilation function be derived, using Newtonian gravitational potential energy in the same manor kinetic energy was used in Special Relativity? This paper carries out the derivation and compares the results with General Relativity's Schwarzschild solution. The what if thought experiment provides a first order accuracy to GR's Schwarzschild solution.

Why it matters

OpenAlex reports 5 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

Key contribution

A contribution statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.

Method / approach

Method details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Main findings

Findings are not separately available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Limitations

Limitations are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Applications

Application details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Available abstract

Einstein was known for often presenting "gedanken" or thought experiments (Miller, 1999). This paper is such an exercise. Time dilation in Special Relativity is based on the derived value of γ (a scalar value) (Einstein, 1905). γ will be calculated as a function of relativistic kinetic energy, allowing time dilation to become a function of relativistic kinetic energy. With the new methodology constructed, a "gedanken” experiment is considered. Can a time dilation function be derived, using Newtonian gravitational potential energy in the same manor kinetic energy was used in Special Relativity? This paper carries out the derivation and compares the results with General Relativity's Schwarzschild solution. The what if thought experiment provides a first order accuracy to GR's Schwarzschild solution.

Key concepts: Time dilation, Gravitational time dilation, Two-body problem in general relativity, Theory of relativity, General relativity, Physics, Gravitation, Einstein

Related papers

Back to paper searchBrowse research topicsOriginal source
Gravitational Time Dilation Derived from Special Relativity and Newtonian Gravitational Potential — Research Paper | ScholarLens